Response of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with selenium during hot- dry summer

In the process of understanding patho-physiology and developing packages for mitigation of heat stress during extreme summer (hot-dry) Selenium was tried individually in broiler pre-starter (0-14d), starter (14-21d) and finisher diets (21-42d of age) at four supplementary levels (0-control, 0.15, 0.3 and 0.45 mg/kg) during hot-dry (April-May, 29.0±0.700 to 36.0±1.400C, Rh,%: 61.0±1.3–70.1±0.82) conditions and the efficacy was judged through growth performance, carcass traits and feed-cost of production at 42nd day of age in broiler chickens. Therefore, total numbers of treatments were four. Each dietary treatment was fed to four replicated groups of 8 birds each. There was difference (P<0.05) in body weight gain during 0–21 as well as 0–42 days of age, while feed intake and FCR did not differ (P>0.05) due to dietary treatments during any growth phase. Supplementation of Se did not alter the yield of visceral organs and abdominal fat but supplemental Se increased (P<0.05) breast and eviscerated yields. Feed-cost per unit body weight gain or per kg meat yield did not differ statistically but numerically lower cost was incurred in Se supplemented groups than control.